Yes.
Major thoroughfares built prior to 2001 were not required to have street lighting, and some of them still do not.
That’s because street lighting was required for these roadways only with the adoption of the Unified Development Code nearly a quarter century ago. Those built afterward have lights, as do many of those that were widened or improved since 2001 through the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Roadway Lighting Program.
The Roadway Lighting Program ended in 2013, but the county is still adding streetlights to thoroughfares as it improves them. Exceptions to this rule are thoroughfares near state parks or those with a “development order condition” that requires a developer — not the county — to widen the road.
Details on where and when lights will be added haven’t been released by the county at the time of publication.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
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Sources
- Sarasota County Public Information Officer Email
- Sarasota County Unified Development Code
